We tell you the honest answer — even when the honest answer is no.

Last updated: June 2026 — answers reviewed against the CICC and MARA public registers and IRCC's published guidance on using immigration consultants.

Six questions people ask before they sit down with any consultancy — including this one.

How do I choose an immigration consultant in Dubai?

Choose on what you can verify, not what the advertising says: regulator licence numbers you can check yourself (CICC for Canada, MARA for Australia), a physical office you can walk into, a written agreement with a defined scope, and years of trading you can trace. A firm worth hiring hands over its licence numbers before you ask.

How do I verify a consultant's CICC or MARA licence?

Search the CICC public register for Canada, or the MARA register for Australia, by name or licence number — free, and it takes about two minutes. Check standing today, not just that a licence once existed: licences get suspended or revoked while old Google results still look spotless. We publish our practitioners' numbers for exactly this check.

What are the common immigration scams in Dubai?

Four patterns account for most of the damage: guaranteed visas, "job offer included" packages, payment into a personal bank account, and consultants who exist only on WhatsApp or Instagram. Legitimate firms invoice to a company account, sign written agreements and never promise a government decision. If someone asks for payment over a messaging app, walk away.

Are immigration consultants worth it, or should I apply myself?

For a straightforward, clearly eligible profile, DIY works — plenty of people do it. Representation earns its keep on program strategy and documentation quality, the two places refused files usually fail, and it filters out the unlicensed agencies common in the Gulf. Either way, only a licensed practitioner may legally represent you for a fee.

Can a consultant speed up my visa application?

No — and anyone claiming "priority processing connections" has just told you what they are. Canada's government states this plainly in its published consultant guidance: no one can speed up processing. What a licensed consultant does control is filing a complete, error-free application first time, which avoids the months lost to returned files and refusals.

How much does an immigration consultant cost in Dubai — and why do quotes differ so much?

It depends on the program, family size and case complexity — which is why serious firms quote only after assessing your file. Quotes differ because scope differs: licensed representation versus form-filling, full process versus one stage, refusal support included or not. Compare itemised written scopes, never headline prices, and ask for yours in writing at the consultation.